A/N - Sorry if you got another alert - this is the same as before, except I had to fix the performance bit (it did a wierd thing and ran it all together when I published). Hopefully it makes better sense now - and won't drive me nuts anymore :)
"Alright, guys, let's settle down!" Mr Schu clapped his hands together, as he stood in front of the assembled glee club in the choir room. Chairs scraped and bags were shuffled as the kids turned to face their teacher. Phones were slipped back into pockets, and whispered conversations silenced.
Mr Schu cast his eye across the group of miscreants and misfits he was proud to consider part of his family. There was Artie, still fingering chords on the fretboard of his unplugged electric guitar. Next to him sat Santana and Brittany, pinkies linked, looking a little bored while Rachel, ever ready for the business of making music, had Finn on one side and Puck on the other. Mr Schu shook his head when he saw Puck reach behind Rachel to smack Finn on the back of the head. Mike had Tina sitting next to him, her head resting on his shoulder, and he was playing with her hair; Mercedes and Kurt had been last to put their cellphones away, they were busy comparing something on the screens before he'd called them to attention. Quinn was sitting with her back straight, ankles crossed, looking every inch the dogmatic yet decorous head Cheerio, and beside her was Sam, with an arm draped across Quinn's shoulders.
"We've been asked if we would perform a number in an assembly later this week. I know it's short notice, but Sue has pulled her Cheerios at the last minute"
Santana cut in "Yeah, she didn't appreciate our efforts at practice, so she's cancelled everything until we stop making her want to burn her eyes out with the napalm she's mixed up in her bathroom."
"So" Schu regained the attention of the group "I was thinking we should do something that showcases everyones' talents - a real group performance, up beat, easy to move to..."
"I have an idea" Rachel raised her hand and bounced a bit on her seat. "I have a song in mind that would, I believe, be an adequate platform with which to demonstrate not only our collective talent but also the sense of camaraderie that has evolved within glee club."
Rachel's oratory deluge was met with blank stares.
"She means she knows a good song for us to show how much we kick ass, and how much fun glee can be" Puck translated.
"Oh" a collective sigh of understanding followed.
Rachel shook her head at her teammates' decided lack in vocabulatory knowledge as she moved to front of the room. "I have been working on an arrangement for this particular track with Regionals in mind, I imagine it with a very loose dance routine. Similar to our funk number - I'm sure Brittany and Mike will be more than capable of pointing us in the right direction." She turned to the ipod dock and plugged in her pink bedazzled shuffle. "Shall we listen? See what you think? Unless, someone else has an idea, of course."
She looked at her friends, who were shaking their heads.
"Nah, Rach, we wanna hear what you got" Puck gestured for her to continue.
Rachel pushed play and the twang of guitar rang out through the room.
When the song faded away there were smiles on faces; feet had been tapping and Mike and Brittany had started to block out some choreography ideas. The mood was light and positive. Mr Schu grinned at his kids. "I think we have a song!" he proclaimed. "Rachel, if you want to bring in what you've been working on for the vocals -"
"Oh, it's not finished yet, Mr Schuester..." Rachel interjected.
Puck offered "I'll come over later, we can work it out together".
Finn glanced at them "Yeah, I'm better at the music side of it anyway."
"So," Mr Schu summed up "we'll have parts tomorrow, and we can start running through it with basic moves".
"Don't forget costumes" Kurt stepped forward "I'm thinking not so matchy-matchy, more following a theme."
"Easy to move in, too - we want to work it on the dance floor. Let's hit the mall for inspiration" Mercedes was excited about the prospect of shopping with her favourite diva, and had pulled out a notebook on which she was scribbling ideas.
There was a buzz of activity as they listened to the song again, some starting to follow the lead of Mike and Brittany. Artie was drawn in to discussions of lighting as Rachel shared some of her vision for the final product, and Sam and Finn talked to the band members.
Mr Schu watched the scene before him. The glee club was operating as a cohesive unit, utilising individual strengths and supporting one another - he'd never been more proud of them. Even when they'd pulled off mammoth performances in competition their team unity had never been this assured.
Noah and Rachel sat on the floor in her bedroom, with paper strewn around them. "See, I've broken it up to give everybody a part, I was just struggling a little with the balance of the harmony in the chorus..."
Noah picked up a pencil and started to mark out notes on the score in front of him. "I think we want to keep it simple for now - really follow what the original did. I mean, we can jazz it up later if we want to use it for a competition."
"You're right. The neanderthals at school wouldn't appreciate musical genius if it bit them on the ass, anyway" Rachel was muttering to herself, and Noah cracked up.
"You said ass!"
Rachel stuck her tongue out at the mohawked boy next to her. "If I did, it is only because you've been such a detrimental influence" she replied haughtily.
"You so said ass... love it. Kinda hot, actually..." Noah smirked and raised an eyebrow in Rachel's direction.
"Oh shut up!" she hit him with the sheaf of paper in her hand, and he pretended to duck for cover behind her bed.
"Argh! Berry's gonna get me with her music scores! Save me daddies Berry! Help!" Noah was yelling, with his hands over his head.
"They aren't even home, you - infant! Get back here and help me, or I won't let you stay for pizza later." Rachel's words were exasperated, but her tone was laughing as she berated Noah.
"Is it vegan pizza?" Noah asked, peering from behind the bed.
"Mine will be, however I had intended to order you a slab of murderous byproduct covered goodness." Rachel was stacking the papers they'd knocked flying when the horseplay had broken out.
"Oooh, yum. Murderous byproduct. My favourite."
The group was gathered backstage waiting for Mr Figgins to announce their performance. Rachel looked around at her friends, with their last minute primping. She laughed at Kurt in his skin tight skinny jeans and shot silver shirt, poofing Mercedes' silver tunic around her wide belt, which she wore with dark denim capris. The Cheerio trio had amped it up in low riding skinnies (Brittany's were bedazzled, of course) and midriff bearing black tank tops, while Sam and Noah sported black wifebeaters and looser fitting jeans. Mike looked amazing in his dark denims and black shirt combo, set off with silver suspenders, which Tina's ensemble (black shirt and silver tulle trimmed denim skirt) was obviously intended to match. Artie had been set upon by the Cheerios, and as a result he had tighter fitting jeans than he usually wore, and a black shirt with the sleeves rolled up to show silver pin-striped lining. Finn had a black fitted tshirt and dark straight leg denims, while Rachel herself had worn denim short-shorts with a black puff sleeved tshirt with a cropped sparkly silver vest over the top (Kurt had found her the vest while on his shopping mission, and she had to admit it was very cute).
Rachel called the club into a huddle. "As co-captain of the glee club" there were mock groans from her friends "ahem! As I was saying, as co-captain of glee club, I want to thank you all for your dedication and input into glee. As your friend, I want to say, let's get out there and give this school a great big 'fuck you'!"
The gasp of her friends was hilarious. "What?" Rachel asked "Was that not an appropriate use of the f-bomb?"
"That was epic, babe!" Noah was first to recover. "Right, hands in the middle - and 'fuck you' on three! One, two, three..."
"FUCK YOU!"
"Now, can you join me in welcoming New Directions to the stage, as they perform for us today" Mr Figgins called over the sound system, as the curtains drew back and the music started.
Tina: Right, right, turn off the lights (Tina strutted down the centre of the stage, as the spotlight hit her.)
We're gonna lose our minds tonight
What's the dealio? (She struck a pose off to the side a bit, and looked back to Quinn.)
Quinn: I love when it's all too much (It was Quinn's turn to strut in the spotlight)
5am turn the radio up
Where's the rock 'n roll? (Before busting out some air guitar moves.)
Artie: Party crasher, panty snatcher (Artie rolled out from side of stage)
Call me up if you're a gangsta (and mimicked talking on the phone)
Santana: Don't be fancy, just get dancy (Santana hit centre stage and dropped her butt to the floor in a provocative move)
Why so serious? (before doing a slow body roll til she was standing again)
Rachel: So raise your glass if you are wrong (Rachel threw her arms in the air)
In all the right ways, all my underdogs (before gesturing to the crowd od students in the auditorium)
We will never be, never be anything but loud
And nitty gritty, dirty little freaks (She held her arms out to encompass the whole glee club who stepped forward to join her)
All: Won't you come on and come on and
Raise your glass! (It was a bit freestyle here, but everyone threw their arms up for the 'raise your glass' bits)
Just come on and come on and
Raise your glass!
Noah: Slam, slam, oh hot damn (Noah was channeling his inner gangster again, posturing and flexing)
What part of a party don't you understand?
Wish you'd just freak out (He walked towards Rachel and circled her)
Mike: Freak out already (Mike was a non-stop pop and lock machine throught the whole routine)
Finn: Can't stop, coming in hot
I should be locked up right on the spot (Finn had obviously been taking dance tips from Puck, he was Finny D again)
It's so on right now (He pointed at Rachel and winked)
Mike: It's so freaking on right now
Sam: Party crasher, penny snatcher (Sam was dancing with Quinn, he held with her back to him)
Call me up if you're a gangsta (and made a phone from his fingers for her to 'talk' into)
Kurt: Don't be fancy, just get dancy (Kurt made his way over to Rachel and held out his hand)
Why so serious?
Kurt and Rachel: So raise your glass if you are wrong
In all the right ways, all my underdogs (The two friends faced each other as they belted out the chorus)
We will never be, never be anything but loud
And nitty gritty, dirty little freaks
Noah: Won't you come on and come on and
All: Raise your glass! (The whole glee club were punching the air in time to the lyrics as they sang)
Sam: Just come on and come on and
All: Raise your glass!
Finn: Won't you come on and come on and
All: Raise your glass!
Artie: Just come on and come on and
All: Raise your glass!
Brittany: Oh what? My glass is empty(The spotlight hit Brittany)
That sucks!
Mercedes: So if you're too school for cool (Mercedes stepped forward)
And you're treated like a fool
Santana: You're treated like a fool
Mercedes: You can choose to let it go
We can always, we can always party on our own (She ran back to join her friends)
Brittany: So raise your (oh, what?)
Rachel and Noah: So raise your glass if you are wrong (Noah came to Rachel's side as they sang together)
In all the right ways, all my underdogs
Rachel and Kurt: We will never be, (Kurt took Rachel's hand and turned her to face him)
never be anything but loud
And nitty gritty, dirty little freaks
All: So raise your glass if you are wrong (The routine now focused on the dancing talents of Brittany and Mike)
In all the right ways, all my underdogs (The others freestyled with the people beside them as they got into what they were singing)
We will never be, never be anything but loud
And nitty gritty, dirty little freaks
Quinn: Won't you come on and come on and
All: Raise your glass!
Tina: Just come on and come on and
All: Raise your glass!
Santana: Won't you come on and come on and
All: Raise your glass for me!
Just come on and come on and
Raise your glass for me.
As the auditorium exploded with catcalls and applause Rachel threw her arms around Noah "That was awesome!". Noah hesitated (almost imperceptibly) before drawing her into a hug.
"It was awesome, Berry."
Song credit (not mine except on my ipod) Raise Your Glass, by Pink - official video is on youtube
A/N This may be the end of In which Puck channels his emotions but there is a sequel! (Which is also completed!) So if you haven't checked out In which Rachel does something badass yet, I think you should (especially if you've been wanting this story to turn PR-coupley).
I have an M rated WIP happening (first 2 chapters are up), and I am messing around with a song-fic which is meant to be done by New Years, so keep in touch yeah? :) Plus, if you have any plot bunnies you want to share, I'd love to give them a go...
AND Happy Holidays!